The Commission on Human Rights urged lawmakers to pass House Bill No. 10159 or the Magna Carta of Children bill.
“The Commission anticipates full support of the Congress in the passage of the bill to demonstrate their commitment to recognizing the vital role of children in nation-building through effective delivery of services targeted to promote and protect their overall well-being,” the CHR said.
“For our part, CHR will continue to be open for consultation to ensure that the Magna Carta for Children fully responds to the rights of every Filipino child,” it added.
CHR Commissioner Beda Epres, as focal for child rights, recently participated in the first House of Representatives’ committee on the welfare of children hearing to highlight CHR’s role in the protection and promotion of all Filipino children.
The proposed measure, if passed into law, shall designate CHR as the country’s Ombud for Children.
“We positively envision this to strengthen our monitoring mechanisms in ensuring the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child in the country,” the commission said.
CHR, through its Child Rights Center, is a member of the core group lobbying for the passage of the Magna Carta of Children.
“In line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is incumbent upon the State to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the rights of all children are guaranteed,” it said.
“A whole-of-society approach should be mobilised to ensure that the State is able to protect, respect, and fulfil the rights of every Filipino child. Once the bill is passed, the Commission’s efforts toward guaranteeing the children’s right to a safe and empowering environment will continue, and we hope that this will translate to additional financial and human resources to effectively carry out our role as the Ombud for Children,” Epres said.
